Agro-tourism challenges in Nepal💥 नेपालमा कृषि-पर्यटनका चुनौतिहरु💥

Beside the profuse potential for agriculture based tourism in Nepal, there are challenges to flourish the for agro-tourism and it's sound development. 

            Photo: Amaltari homestay, source: Kinley ragan 

Understanding (कमजोर बुझाइ )

Many of the farming community in Nepal are residing on remote village and remotely access the education. The farming system is going in the same traditional way. Local people are perceiving that, this is it. Level of understanding to improve current farming system in economic way can be found as minimal among local community. Whoever even understand the importance of agriculture, they do not want to work as it is 'muddy work'. The very first thing to progress towards development is our 'understanding' and 'will thought'. If we do not 'understand' it does not make any sense for development later. 

Labour scarcity (कामदार हरुको अभाब)

Most of the local youth and active and literate population are in abroad for foreign employment. Only inactive population (for labour work) are remain in community. It is creating a big challenge for growth of agro-tourism in different way. First is, it is leaving heavy mass of illiterate population in a community who can not understand and/or understand very slowly. Secondly, it creates the labour scarcity to work in farm because there would be only inactive population left. In addition, the workforce from inactive population goes unproductive and/or slow. Third is that, the cultivable land may goes barren because of labour shortage. I is happening in many regions of Nepal already. Shortage of active workforce ls one of the greatest challenge, that is pushing back our agriculture system step back.

 Photo: Rice transplantation at local level, source: Himal mandap

Agro-tourism syllabus and study program in University (बिस्वविध्यालयहरु को पाठ्यक्रममा कृषि पर्यटन समाबेस नहुनु )

Concept of agro-based tourism is new concept, however, to some extent agro-tourism is already implemented by local community in terms of  'home stay' in many regions. Even from the some local initiative for agro-tourism is giving progressive sign towards the prosper future. However, we could not see much attention from government and private sector to include agro-tourism in syllabus in academic program. 

To develop well understanding of agro-tourism, it's importance and how it can improve national finance system, there is a great importance to include this program in syllabus from academic institution. This is one of the main barrier to mainstream agro-tourism. 

The research and study scheme for agro-tourism in undergraduate and postgraduate program is not likely available in university program in Nepal. Including agro-tourism in research program such as thesis and other project works will help to develop understanding and bring agro-tourism in mainstream.

Research program (अनुसन्धान को अभाब )

From the examples from successful agro-tourism approaches from other countries such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam, we can say agro-tourism is one of the prospective economic future is Nepal. However, we can not see much research been done in Nepal. without detail study in differents aspects such as economic analysis and sustainable development could not frame out the beneficial structure of agro-tourism. Therefore, research program from all government, private and local community sector should not be a barrier in future. 

Infractures (अति आवस्यक पूर्वाधारको अभाब )

Less development of well developed infrastructures is another challenge for agro-tourism development. Very less accessible motorable roads, very less accessible trekking routes, no sound housing structures and less access to safe drinking water are still major problem for agro-tourism development. Many remote regions are still out of basic motorable road access; access to well developed internet service, mobile phones, TV and compute are far away from imagination, however, these regions have heavenly scenic beauty and profuse local cultures. Because of very poor or less access of at least basic infrastructures, these regions are in shadow from tourism development

Politics (राजनीतिको असर )

The ongoing political instability, unsudden protest, shutting down transportation for unseen reason, poor insurance policy for tourist and fake rescues are burning challenges for agro-tourism to attract tourist. 

Policy (रास्ट्रको नीतिमा कृषि-पर्यटन आवस्यक रुपमा समावेस नहुनु )

There is no effective policy from Nepal government to boost agro-tourism. We can not see efficient policies that address the problems in agro-tourism and promotion of agro-tourism. The poor coordination with National Tourism Board, and not mainstreaming implementation policies for agro-tourism is also pushing back the agro-tourism. 

There is very less understanding and low concept of organizing the agri-fairs and festivals in national level such as food festival and agricultural products fair. In coordination with National Tourism board, local and national level stakeholders, local community and non-government organizations, Nepal government can organize these kind of festivals to attract tourist

Lets act in implementation level for growth, promotion and sustainable agro-tourism development in Nepal. 

Together we can 💚🙏👏 हामी सक्छौँ